Bay State Basics

A Student Guide to Living in Massachusetts

Dear Student:

Thank you for choosing Massachusetts as the place to continue your education. With over 150 public and private institutions of higher learning and a combined student population of a half million, our Commonwealth is recognized worldwide for its academic heritage and reputation. Indeed, the intellectual and cultural energy generated by students adds immeasurably to the character, economy, and quality of life in the Bay State.

Your college experience will not be limited to spending time in lecture halls, libraries, or on the internet. Massachusetts is an outstanding place to work, to travel throughout, and to live and have fun. It is even a great place to own a business. As a result, you will need essential information about transportation, landlord/tenant regulations, voter registration, and numerous other practical matters that affect your daily lives.

This website, A Student’s Guide To Living in Massachusetts, has been prepared by my office to provide you with much of the useful information you will need as Massachusetts collegians. Use the contact numbers within this document to call any of the specific divisions of my office.

College life in Massachusetts will be an exciting and rewarding experience for you. Enjoy it, and keep A Student’s Guide To Living in Massachusetts as one of your guides to practical knowledge about our Commonwealth.

Sincerely,

William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth

Secretary of the Commonwealth Divisions

Citizen Information Service

For more than 30 years, Citizen Information Service (CIS) has made state government more accessible to residents of the Commonwealth. It has responded to nearly two million telephone inquiries, and has been able to provide immediate answers to approximately ninety-nine percent of those calls.

The goal of Citizen Information Service has been to assist citizens connect to the many state agencies where they may seek information on programs and or to seek assistance or redress with the government offices that we citizens interact with. While we cannot answer every question the public is invited to send us their questions as they relate to state government. Please understand we do not provide any legal services or opinions, nor do we advocate on behalf of the citizens. You may call, fax or e-mail us at the contact information below.

In addition, CIS produces and distributes a series of publications on a diverse range of topics such as the Citizens’ Guide to State Services, Motor Vehicle Excise Information, Safe & Sanitary Housing for Massachusetts Residents, and many more.

Elections Division

The Secretary of the Commonwealth is the state’s chief election official. The Elections Division administers state elections, from the distribution and receipt of nomination papers to the printing of ballots for all federal, state and county elections in Massachusetts.

In addition, the division conducts public education, outreach and voter registration campaigns, and is constitutionally required to print the Information for Voters booklet, which describes all statewide ballot questions and which is mailed to every household in the Commonwealth.

The state of Massachusetts, through the Elections Division, has also been a national model in implementing the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, assuring polling place access for the disabled and elderly, and the National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter), which established a state central voter registry and allows persons to register to vote at numerous public agencies throughout the state.

State Bookstore

The State Bookstore, a component of the State Publications and Regulations Division, is responsible for the sale of our own documents, as well as numerous other state publications, such as the School Directory, List of Mortgage Rates and Massachusetts Election Statistics. It also has copies of recently passed state laws and a collection of souvenirs to accommodate the 100,000 tourists who visit the State House each year. Continually expanding its retail scope, the State Bookstore averages more than $1 million in annual sales.

State House Tours & Government Education Division

Established by an act of the legislature in 1969, the State House Tours Division guides approximately 90,000 visitors annually through the halls of the state’s capitol building. It provides an Architectural/Historical Tour and a Legislative Process Tour, as well as a number of brochures explaining the history of the State House and the passage of legislation.

The division, in addition to providing State House information in eight different languages, operates a desk which assists with questions on state government, locating personnel and various tourist inquiries. It also has resource notebooks containing a wealth of information for school groups, journalists, historians and travel professionals. The Tours Division manages the operation of the State House Gift Cart, which has souvenirs, books, and other materials relating to the State House.

Massachusetts Archives & Commonwealth Museum

The Massachusetts Archives preserves access to state government records that are of long-term value to support government operations. Those records relate to government goals, objectives, and actions, or represent documentation of the state’s citizens and history.

The Archives is mandated to acquire, describe, preserve, and provide access to those records. The division’s Records Management Unit works with state and local agencies to ensure that records are properly maintained. In addition, this division trains records custodians in appropriate management techniques, including the appraisal and disposition of government records.

The Archives is also the repository of more than 370 years of Massachusetts history, housing such artifacts and documents as early probate and court records, genealogical, and immigration information, and other historical data. The Archives, in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Humanities, is currently preserving and indexing several thousand records from the colonial era of 1630 to 1776.

Regional Offices

The Regional Offices provide many of the services which exist at the principal location of the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston, MA. Residents of western and southeastern Massachusetts are able to receive and file corporate documents, take their oaths of office, file nomination papers, and obtain a variety of state publications.

In addition, staff members participate in a number of outreach programs, such as voter registration drives, corporations seminars, and securities fraud forums.

Other Divisions

The other divisions of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Office are Corporations, Securities, Registry of Deeds, Public Records, Massachusetts Archives, Massachusetts Historical Commission, Commonwealth Museum, State Records Center and Address Confidentiality.

Residency

There is no formal procedure for establishing a legal residence in Massachusetts. Voter registration, automobile registration, a driver’s license, the appearance of a person’s name on a city or town street list, and rent, utility, mortgage or telephone bills normally provide tangible proof of residence. However, individual public or private agencies or institutions may have their own requirements for proof of residence. To be eligible for the resident tuition rate at a public institution of higher learning, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that s/he is a resident and intends to remain permanently or for an indefinite time. For state universities and state colleges, the length of residency is twelve months; for community colleges, it is six months. It is important to check with the institution as several factors are taken into consideration in determining residency.

Voter Registration

If you are a U.S. citizen, a Massachusetts resident, and you will be
18 years old on or before Election Day, you may register to vote at any
city or town hall in person, or by mail, by contacting any city or town
clerk's office. Social service, welfare, Registry of Motor Vehicle
offices, and offices providing services for the disabled also have walk-in
registration services available. Colleges, universities, high schools,
and vocational schools have registration availability for enrolled students.
Registration in Massachusetts is permanent, but you must register again
if you move or change your name. (For more detailed information ask the
Elections Division for the publication entitled Registering and
Voting in Massachusetts.)

Consumer Protection

If you have a complaint involving the purchase and/or sale of goods and services in a private business transaction, you can contact the local consumer council in your city or town. If your city or town does not have a consumer council, contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General.

The Consumer Protection Division receives and processes citizen complaints, working closely with consumer complaint groups throughout the state. To file a complaint, obtain a form directly from the Consumer Protection Division or online. The division will accept individual written complaints and take legal action if a widespread pattern of fraud is found. For more information, contact:

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation serves as an informational resource to consumers throughout the Commonwealth by publishing brochures on consumer rights in many areas. These include such topics as Mechanics of Auto Repair, Consumer’s Guide to Home Improvement, information on Small Claims Court (web only), and three brochures on lemon law for autos (new, used and leased), Tenant Rights and Responsibilities, and many more. The office will be pleased to send you a publication in your area of concern. For more information, contact:

Landlord/Tenant

Sanitary Code

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health establishes regulations detailing the standards which must be maintained by landlords and tenants. The Sanitary Code standards, entitled Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation, apply to every dwelling unit or rooming house unit in Massachusetts which is used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating. For information about these regulations, call your local board of health which has the primary responsibility for their enforcement. You can also obtain from Citizen Information Service a pamphlet entitled Safe and Sanitary Housing for Massachusetts Residents which highlights these regulations.

Security Deposit / Last Month’s Rent

When requesting a security deposit (which cannot exceed one month’s rent), a landlord is required to give the tenant a receipt and statement of condition which must contain a comprehensive list of any damage existing in the premises. The deposit, upon which is based the going interest rate up to 5%, must be paid at the end of each full year of tenancy and is to be placed in an escrow account. A landlord may also request a last month’s rent. The landlord is required to pay the going interest rate up to 5% interest on the last month’s rent at the end of each full year of tenancy or at the end of the tenancy if less than one year. Interest on the rent for the last month which is used as a rental payment is not required. The last month’s rent does not have to be put into an escrow account.

For information and referrals about housing matters, contact your local tenants groups or Citizen Information Service. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation publishes and has available upon request and online: Tenant Rights and Responsibilities.

Employment

Wage Requirements

The minimum wage in Massachusetts is currently: $8.00 per hour. It is scheduled to change on January 1, 2015 to $9.00 per hour, on January 1, 2016 to $10.00 per hour and on January 1, 2017 to $11.00 per hour.

Wait staff, service employees and service bartenders may be paid the service rate of $2.63 per hour if they regularly receive tips of more than $20 a month, and if their average hourly tips, when added to the service rate, are equal to or exceed the basic minimum wage. M.G.L. Chapter 151, section 7.

Employers may allow a tip credit of 40% on the minimum state wage for those employees who earn at least $30.00 a month in tips. For more information about state wage requirements, contact:

Taxation

If you are a student who lives and works in Massachusetts while attending school, you must file a Massachusetts income tax return if your income exceeds $8000.00 If your anticipated income is less than $8000.00, you may ask your employer not to withhold taxes by filing a Massachusetts Employee’s Withholding Exemption Certificate (form M-4) with your employer.

On the federal level, you must file a tax return if your income is in excess of $4440.00 You can only claim exemption from withholding if last year you did not owe any federal income tax and had a right to a refund of all income tax withheld, and you do not expect this year to owe any federal income tax and expect to have a right to a refund of all income tax withheld. File a Federal Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate (form W-4) with your employer.

These figures are applicable to students who are single. Check with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue or the federal Internal Revenue Service for further information.

City Year, an AmeriCorps program,is a national service organization which unites young adults, ages 17 to 23, from diverse racial, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds for a demanding year of full-time community service, leadership development, and civic engagement. The corps includes college graduates, high school graduates, and young people without high school diplomas.

City Year’s comprehensive educational program includes required GED classes for corps members who have not graduated from high school, college and career counseling, and overnight training retreats. Upon graduation Corps members are eligible for exclusive scholarships to dozens of colleges and universities, future service opportunities, access to online career resource center, and networking opportunities with more than 15,000 alumni. City Year is an innovative and multifaceted service organization which seeks to address unmet community needs, break down barriers of class and race, inspire citizens to civic action, and strengthen the bonds of community. By tapping the energy and commitment of young people, City Year is “putting idealism to work.”

The Division of Career Services maintains job-matching centers for general employment across the state. Although the division is mainly oriented toward providing permanent employment, there are limited opportunities for temporary and/or part-time work. For more information, contact:

Tax Structure

Personal Income Tax

A 5.2 percent tax on earned income from such sources as wages and salaries, unemployment compensation; alimony; Massachusetts bank interest; rents and royalty income; taxable pensions and annuity income; IRA/Keogh distribution; profit or loss from a business or profession; winnings and prizes; unearned income such as dividends and interest (other than Massachusetts savings deposit interest); and capital gains.

A declaration of estimated tax must be filed by those who expect to receive more than $500.00 of income subject to Massachusetts taxation which is not subject to Massachusetts withholding.

Sales and Use Tax

A 6.25 percent tax on the retail sale of all items unless exempted by statute is imposed. A 6.25 percent tax on tangible personal property which is used or stored in Massachusetts and upon which a sales tax has not been paid is also paid. Exemptions include food, clothing up to a value of $175.00, fuel for heating, newspapers, ticket sales and prescription drugs. In addition, there is a sales tax on telecommunications services, utilities, and energy (including non-residential electricity, gas, steam, and heating fuel).

Sales Tax on Meals

A 6.25 percent tax is imposed on restaurant and take-out meals. Generally, a food product sold as a grocery item is exempt from the sales tax on meals.

Gasoline Tax

“Tax per gallon”, shall be 24 cents per gallon for automobiles and trucks. Contact the Department of Revenue for information on other types of fuel at 617-887-5070 or visit www.mass.gov/dor

Cigarette Tax

Massachusetts, and the U.S. Federal government implement an excise tax on tobacco products and cigarettes. The Federal tax on cigarettes is overseen by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The Federal tax varies depending on the type of tobacco product. The Federal tax rate equals $1.0066 per pack of 20 cigarettes. The Massachusetts state tax equals $2.51 per pack of 20 cigarettes, and $3.1375 per pack of 25. The revenue from the Massachusetts cigarette excise tax provides money for existing funds, generally directed toward health programs and smoking prevention projects.

Automobile Excise Tax

An annual tax is levied by the state but collected at the local level. The rate is $25.00 per thousand dollars of the car’s value, as determined by the manufacturer’s list price (without options) in the year of manufacture. The tax is figured according to the percentage of the list price. The percentages are as follows:

Year preceding the designated year of manufacture: 50%
Year of designated manufacture: 90%
Second year: 60%
Third year: 40%
Fourth year: 25%
Fifth and subsequent years: 10%

Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) is primarily responsible for the management and oversight of all state funded financial aid programs and advises the Board of Higher Education about financial aid policy matters of concern to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition to its financial aid responsibilities, OSFA is the principal agency for promoting access to higher education through early awareness initiatives that foster the recognition of college as a viable postsecondary option and the availability of financial aid resources to help students and families meet college costs.

Since 1956 American Student Assistance (ASA) has been helping students to successfully fulfill a program of higher education, originally by making guaranteed student loans possible and more recently by helping students complete a program of higher education financing and repayment. ASA is a private nonprofit whose public purpose mission is to empower students and alumni to successfully manage and repay their college loan debt.

The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) is a not-for-profit quasi-public entity serving students and families in Massachusetts and out-of-state students and families pursuing higher education in Massachusetts. MEFA’s mission is to increase access and college affordability across the Commonwealth through low-cost financing alternatives, college savings programs and educational financing expertise on planning, saving and paying for higher education.

Motor Vehicles

Registration

Massachusetts residents are required to register their cars. You may do so at any branch office of the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Proof of ownership must be presented in the form of the title to your car. If you come from a state which does not require titles, a bill of sale or a past registration will be accepted. Prior to registering your car, you will also need insurance certification issued by a licensed Massachusetts insurance company, indicating that your car is insured in accordance with Massachusetts laws. For more detailed information go to the Division of Insurance web page at www.mass.gov/doi.

Inspection

Within seven days after registering your car in Massachusetts, you must have it inspected at any gas station or automobile repair shop which has been certified by the Registry of Motor Vehicles as an official inspection station.

An inspection maintenance program requires both a yearly safety and emissions level inspection of motor vehicles. Motor vehicles that are more than 15 years old, that have a maximum speed of 25 m.p.h. or less, that have a diesel engine, that have a registered weight of 8,500 pounds or more, are motorcycles, or are new vehicles being registered for the first time are exempt from the emissions part of the inspection.

The Mass vehicle check for a combined safety and emissions inspection or a safety only inspection is $35.00.

Sales Tax on Automobiles

If you move into Massachusetts within six months of purchasing a new or used car, you must pay either the full sales tax on the car or the difference between the Massachusetts sales tax and that of the state where the car was purchased. More specifically, if Massachusetts:

has a reciprocity with the state and you have proof that the sales tax was paid in that state, you have only to pay the difference between the tax rates of the two states.

does not have a reciprocity with the state where the car was purchased, then you must pay the full Massachusetts sales tax. No sales tax has to be paid if the car was purchased out of state more than six months prior to your move.

Seat Belts

All passengers in vehicles must wear seat belts. Violators must pay a $25.00 fine if a driver is stopped for a motor vehicle infraction and an officer finds that any passenger is not wearing a seat belt. Under the combined safety and emissions inspection regulations, safety belts are required for motor vehicles where such safety belts were installed as original equipment. In addition, each passenger over 16 years of age not properly fastened in will be fined individually. Children five years of age or under must be protected with an approved child passenger restraint such as an infant, toddler, convertible, or booster seat until they reach 80 lbs. Under the Child Passenger Safety Law, M.G.L. ch. 90, s. 7AA, passengers who are under age eight years old must be fastened and secured by a child passenger restraint, (child or booster seat as appropriate) unless such passenger measures more than 57 inches in height. The child passenger restraint shall be properly fastened and secured according to manufacturer’s instruction. Unless required to be secured by a child passenger restraint device such as a child or booster seat, all children less than 13 years of age shall wear a seat belt adjusted and fastened according to manufacturer’s instructions. Child passenger restraint devices are specifically designed seating system which meets the US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Driver’s License (Class D)

If you have a valid license to drive from any state in the U.S. or province of Canada, you are not required to take a driving test to obtain a Massachusetts license. You are, however, required to take a written examination if you have an old license that has expired. At the branch offices of the Registry of Motor Vehicles you may fill out an application form and make an appointment to take the written exam. If you pass the exam and an eye test, a photo license will be issued. Both the license conversion and the new license issued following the written exam is $115.00. It is valid for 5 years. After this, the renewal fee is $50.00. For more information, contact:

Identification Cards

Identification Card for Non-drivers

If you are 14 years of age or older, a Massachusetts resident and do not have a valid motor vehicle license, you may apply to a branch office of the Registry of Motor Vehicles for a photo identification card. To apply for the card if you are under 18 years of age, you must have three documents to ascertain your identity, one document providing date of birth, parental consent on the class D, M or D/M license and ID card application, and social security number (SSN) that the RMV can verify with the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) as having been issued to you OR an acceptable Denial Notice from the SSA. If you are over 18 years of age or older you must also have documents proving signature and Massachusetts residency. Home mortgage papers, a pistol permit, a high school yearbook with a person’s picture or a W-2 yearly income tax form are other types of documents which are acceptable. The cost is $25.00 and the ID expires every 5 years. If the I.D. is lost, a replacement also costs $25.00 An amended I.D. card also costs $25.00.

Liquor Purchase Identification

If you are 21 years of age or older and you do not have a Massachusetts driver’s license, you may apply for a liquor purchase identification card. Application is made in person to any office of the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The cost is $25.00 and renewal is necessary. The ID is valid for 5 years.

If the card is lost, the entire application procedure must be completed again and a new fee paid of $25.00. The following documents must be presented with the application:

a driver’s license permit if one has been issued, and

a social security number (SSN) that the RMV can verify with the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) as having been issued OR an acceptable Denial Notice from the SSA. If you present a Denial Notice, you must also present proof of acceptable visa status, and I-94 (Record of Arrival and Departure), and a current non-U.S. passport.

a birth certificate or certificate of naturalization, and

one of the following (or two, if there is no driver’s license):
a school or college record with the signature of the dean attesting to the date of the applicant’s birth and with applicant’s signature; passport; armed services discharge papers; college I.D. card with picture and signature; employment I.D. card with picture and signature; baptismal record (not preferred but acceptable); U.S. immigration record (not preferred but acceptable).

No photocopies of any record are acceptable. Records and documents of the following type will not be accepted to establish your age: draft cards, charge cards, health insurance cards, vehicle registration, welfare cards. An amended liquor I.D. card costs $25.00.

Drug Laws

Conviction for the possession of more than one ounce of marijuana in Massachusetts is punishable by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than six months or a fine of $500.00, or both (M.G.L Ch.94C :34. Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana shall be a civil offense with a $100.00 fine and forfeiture of the marijuana (M.G.L Ch.94C :32L).

Any person who is convicted for the first time and who has never been convicted of any offense relating to narcotic or harmful drugs shall be placed on probation unless the court files a written memorandum stating the reasons for not doing so.

Possession with intent to distribute or the manufacture of PCP or Angel Dust carries a one-year mandatory prison sentence in Massachusetts.

Possession of large quantities of illegal drugs with intent to distribute carries various mandatory prison sentences based on the quantity of the drug.

Drinking Age

The legal drinking age in Massachusetts is 21 (since 6/1/85). Proper identification is a Massachusetts driver’s license or a liquor purchase identification card issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

The refund value is five cents, but may be less in certain instances. Empty containers may be returned to redemption centers or retail outlets which sell or have sold within the past 60 days the same brand, type and size of container. For more information, contact:

Gun Laws

In 1998 under the Gun Control Act (M.G.L. c. 140, s. 131), Massachusetts enacted one of the toughest gun control laws in the country. This law has significantly changed the requirements regarding the purchase, possession, carrying, storage, and licensing of firearms. The summary below highlights a few of the key points. However, it in no way sets forth all of the obligations and rights of individuals with regard to firearms laws.

Local police departments have the authority to issue gun permits. Such permits include licenses to carry (L.T.C.) and firearm identification cards (F.I.D.). There are two types of licenses to carry. A Class A license to carry allows an individual to purchase, possess and carry large-capacity handguns, rifles, shotguns and feeding devices. It is the only permit that authorizes a holder to carry a concealed and loaded firearm. A Class B license to carry permits a holder to purchase, possess, and carry non-large capacity handguns and large-capacity rifles and shotguns.

As a result of the Gun Control Act of 1998, any F.I.D. card issued prior to 10/21/98 expired on 6/30/2000. There are two types of firearm identification cards. Unrestricted firearm identification cards allow for the possession of non-large capacity rifles and shotguns. The restricted version of the card is available solely for the possession of chemical sprays such as mace or pepper spray.

Massachusetts gun laws require that all firearms, rifles, and shotguns be stored in a secured, locked container or equipped with a tamper resistant mechanical lock or other safety devices properly engaged as to render the weapon inoperable by unlawful users. Moreover, every firearm and large capacity weapon sold in the Commonwealth must be equipped with a safety device (trigger lock) designed to prevent its discharge by an unauthorized user.

New residents have 60 days to obtain proper licenses. Non-residents may obtain temporary licenses to carry through the Firearms Record Bureau in order to possess and transport firearms through the Commonwealth. All non-residents must comply with all Massachusetts laws regarding transportation and storage while in the Commonwealth.

No one may possess, transport or store any type of gun in a building or on the grounds of any school without prior authorization by the board in charge of the school.

Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2004 converted the ban on certain assault weapons, extended the term of FID cards and LTC (License to Carry) from 4 to 6 years (applicable to licenses issued on or after Sept.14, 2004), added a provision for a 90-day grace period following the expiration of a license, and exempted the LTC renewal fee for active law enforcement officers.

Communicable and Venereal Diseases/STDs

The Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention works with state venereal disease clinics in the outpatient departments of general hospitals to provide diagnosis, laboratory work, and treatment of venereal diseases. The basic services of the clinics are free of charge. For referral to these clinics, students may contact their college infirmary, private hospitals in their area, or regional offices of the Department of Public Health.

Drug Rehabilitation

The Bureau of Substance Abuse Services provides a comprehensive program for drug abuse treatment and prevention. The office also encourages statewide, regional, and local programs for the prevention and treatment of drug dependency through cooperation of interested public agencies and private organizations. Contact the Bureau for referrals.

Poison Prevention

The Poison Prevention Program is administered by the Injury Prevention and Control Program in partnership with the Regional Center for Poison Prevention and Control. The mission of the Regional Center for Poison Control and Prevention is to provide assistance and expertise in the medical diagnosis, management and prevention of poisonings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The Center is located at Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA and operates a toll-free, 24-hour phone line for poisoning emergencies and information.

Mental Health

The Department of Mental Health is responsible for coordinating and providing services for the mentally ill and for citizens in need of help in coping with problems. The range of mental health care services includes outpatient counseling services, crisis intervention, inpatient care at state hospitals, residential programs, day treatment, and after care services, and social rehabilitation clubs. Services are organized on an area basis. Contact the Department of Mental Health for a referral to the appropriate area office.

The Samaritans is an international suicide prevention organization whose trained volunteers provide telephone befriending 24 hours a day for people who are suicidal, lonely, or depressed. Certain centers are also open for personal visits seven days a week from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. This service is both free and confidential. It is not affiliated with any religious organization. To contact the Samaritans, call:

Individuals with Disabilities

The Massachusetts Office on Disability provides information and referral to handicapped individuals seeking the services of governmental and private organizations whose function is to meet the special needs of the handicapped. For more information, contact:

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission provides people who have disabilities with information in a variety of areas: career and educational opportunities, accessibility, financial aid, legal assistance, coping skills as well as social, recreational and travel resources. For more information, contact:

Bus, Subway and Trolley MBTA

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates bus, subway and trolley lines, in Boston and surrounding communities. Unlimited, flexible travel passes offer additional savings to Greater Boston commuters. To obtain a pass, visit the CharlieCard Store located at the Downtown Crossing Concourse, 7 Chauncy Street, Boston MA 02111. There you will be able to obtain and add value to CharlieCards, CharlieTickets, and all other passes. You can also get your CharlieCard or CharlieTicket from MBTA service agents, station vending machines (tickets only), online at mbta.com, and at licensed retail locations throughout the greater Boston area. For additional information and a current list of licensed retail locations visit mbta.com.

Private Bus

Massachusetts is served by many private bus companies which operate in our larger communities and may be served by smaller bus companies in our smaller communities. Check your local listings for fare and schedule information.

Amtrak Trains

Amtrak, a nationwide passenger railroad, offers direct service from Boston to New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington D.C., and other points along the eastern corridor. For fare and schedule information, contact:
Tel: 617-345-7460 or 1-800-872-7245 (USA-RAIL)www.amtrak.com

Commuter Rail Trains

Keolis Commuter Services has been awarded an MBTA contract to run the commuter rail service in Massachusetts. For fare and schedule information contact:

Highways

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Highway Division includes the roadways, bridges, and tunnels of the former Massachusetts Highway Department and Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. The division oversees the Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, Jr., Ted Williams, Lieutenant William F. Callahan, William H. Sumner tunnels as well as the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill and Maurice J. Tobin bridges. The Division also includes many bridges and parkways previously under the authority of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Highway Division is responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of the Commonwealth’s state highways and bridges. The Division is responsible for overseeing traffic safety and engineering activities including the Highway Operations Control Center to ensure safe road and travel conditions. Massachusetts Highway maps are available from this office.

Recreational Information

Performing Arts

Bostix, in Quincy Market and Copley Square, Boston, sells tickets for museums, performing arts groups, and other tourist attractions at full price. In addition, you can purchase half-price tickets for day-of-performance, nonprofit, and commercial events, subject to availability.

Tourism

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourismdisseminates information on tourist areas in the state. Specific brochures listing ski areas, agricultural fairs, and coming events in Massachusetts are also available. For more information, contact:

Holidays

In Massachusetts certain holidays are subject to laws which restrict the type of work that may be performed as well as the kind of business and commercial activities that may remain open. Only those holidays marked with asterisks (*) have certain restrictions. On holidays listed without asterisks, business and commercial activities may operate as usual. Please Note: Only retail establishments may open during the holidays of Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Retail establishments which operate on New Year’s Day, Columbus Day after 12:00 noon, or on November 11 after 1:00 pm are required to pay their employees time and one-half. Retail establishments which operate on Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day are required to pay time and one-half if at least eight employees are on the payroll in the week prior to the holiday. For questions on holidays, contact:

The chart below lists all legal holidays observed in Massachusetts. State, county, and municipal offices are closed on all of these days. Federal offices are only closed on holidays which the federal government recognizes (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, George Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). The term “federal holiday” is not applicable to individual states and the private sector since each state has jurisdiction over its holidays.

Holiday

New Year’s Day - January 1st

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday - Third Monday in January

Washington’s Birthday - Third Monday in February

Evacuation Day - March 17th (Suffolk County only, most state offices are open.)

Patriot’s Day - Third Monday in April

Memorial Day**(1) - Last Monday in May

Bunker Hill Day - June 17th (Suffolk County only, most state offices are open.)

Independence Day - July 4th**

Labor Day** - First Monday in September

Columbus Day*(2) - Second Monday in October (Restrictions until 12 noon)

Veterans’ Day*(2) - November 11th* (Restrictions until 1pm)

Thanksgiving Day*(1) - Customarily the fourth Thursday in November

Christmas Day*(1) - December 25th

* - Full restrictions apply for ALL commerce
** - Restrictions apply except to retail
(1) Liquor Stores must be closed for Memorial, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Days.
(2) Many companies operate all day on these holidays, pending obtaining a local permit.
(3) All holidays falling on Sunday must be observed on Monday, under state law. Saturday holidays are observed on Saturday.

Questions about wages paid to employees on holidays should be directed to: